1st Quarter 2021

1st Quarter 2021

TEXAS TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION We are very proud to introduce our newest

Certified Professional Turf Managers!

Juan Tapia CPTM

Reed Grant CPTM

Gosta Olofson CPTM

Weston Floyd CPTM

Carlos Montelongo CPTM

Kristena Polmanteer CPTM

Joseph Buechman CPTM

Francisco Peralta CPTM

The 2021 Texas A&M Ecology and Management Short Course had another successful year with 45 attendees from the golf, sports, sod, municipal and com-

mercial sectors of the Texas turfgrass industry. The TTA was proud to be a part of this education event that helped promote the CPTM Program! All attendees had the opportunity to join the Texas Turfgrass Association and apply for the Certified Professional Turfgrass Managers Certification (CPTM).

Kyle Foreman CPTM

Not pictured: Gary West CPTM, Stephan Richardson CPTM, Vander Hallmark CPTM, Trevor Perez CPTM

CPTM CERTIFICATION PROGRAM More information on the 2021 Class of CPTM on Page 10

Keeping Texas Green SINCE 1947

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Table of Contents

President’s Message - Raymond Miller ……….....……………..………………..4 Executive Director Message - Katie Flowers ………….…………………..……..6 2021 Winter Conference Save the Dates …………………………...……………..7 Featured Turfgrass Article

The Turfgrass Certification Process ………………………………………………...8 - 9

2021 Newest CPTMs! Congratulations ………………..…………………...10 - 14 Featured Turfgrass Article Is Virtual Reality in the Future of Turf? …………………...….….…………..16 - 17 2021 Summer Conference Program…………….………………………….18 - 25

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ADVERTISERS 2021 Sponsors

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Rusty Walker CFSM CPTM

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Bowlin Consulting

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Larson Golf Services

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Thomas Turfgrass

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Turf and Soil Diagnostics

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All Seasons Turfgrass

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Sod Solutions

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King Ranch Turfgrass

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BWI

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THANK YOU!

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President’s Message

Howdy Turfgrass Friends, As 2021 began, we were still in the grip of the pandemic. Then we experienced an epic freeze statewide followed by record breaking rains in North Texas for May and an ongoing severe drought in South and West Texas. If the Texas Turfgrass Association or I can help you, please let us know. We are all praying for a less eventful second half of 2021.

As I travel across Texas, TTA members ask about the association and share their thoughts. Each of our board members has a different professional network, and we share those experiences with each other to grow and improve the organization. If you share that commitment to the association, we are always looking for that next new board or committee member. I am sure we can find a job for you. On Monday, I saw Mike Chandler, our 2019 TTA President, and I asked if he was enjoying his break from the board. Mike said he was but that he missed working with the board. It is a great opportunity to serve the industry and build relationships.

The Summer TTA Conference at Horseshoe Bay is fast approaching. The summer conference committee, advisors, and Katie have put together a great event with strong topics, excellent speakers and new opportunities for networking. I was attending a meeting yesterday in Katy and I talked to several TTA members who were there getting their pesticide CEUs. Even though they would meet the requirements to renew that license, they see value in participating in TTA conference. Brandon Bryant, Turf and Pond Care Manager at Glasco & Co Landscaping shared a story from the 2019 TTA Summer Conference of meeting a peer from Dallas on the first evening at the Kyle Field tour. They end up sitting together in the meeting and meals for much of the conference. They still call and text each other to discuss turfgrass and the turf industry.

TTA also offers awards for outstanding lawn and landscapes, golf courses and sports fields. These awards can help you motivate your maintenance teams and show your bosses the value that your team provides. Now is the time to start planning your award applications and get your entries in to Katie Flowers by the end of September 2021.

The conferences and the CPTM program afford you opportunities to develop working relationships with key turf researchers and extension turf specialist. These relationships can be critical to helping you solve problems and to describing the positive environmental and economic impacts of the industry.

In closing, TTA membership and conference participation has may benefits beyond just getting you CEUs. If you aren’t currently planning to attend the summer and/or the winter conferences, please take a look at them again. I look forward to seeing you at Horseshoe Bay. Sincerely, Raymond C. Miller President - Texas Turfgrass Association

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2021 Board of Directors

Executive Board

Executive Director Message

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Howdy and Welcome to Our 2021 Summer Conference!

Thank you to our Board of Directors and Sponsors who have helped put this Summer Conference together and most importantly- In Person!

I know that your education can be reached all throughout the state of Texas and now it is easy to get your required education online and in a short day! We hope to find ways to keep you engaged and coming to our in-person shows each year! The networking and face to face interaction of our industry goes beyond the CEU’s you need, and we strive to keep that a focal point at the Summer and upcoming Winter TTA Conference.

Special Thank you to Galveston Deep Sea Fishing Charters, GLK, Austin Turf and Tractor, and Aqua-Aid for helping to Sponsor the Family Putting Tournament at the Summer Conference! This is the type of events that cannot be replaced, and we hope brings our vendors, members, and families together in the Summer!

Recently, we had our largest bunch of Certified Professional Turf Grass Managers pass their examine and are recognized in this newsletter! If you have not received your CPTM designation or would like to inquiry about that, please email me, call me, or visit our website to discuss how we can elevate your resume and profession in this industry!

Congratulations to everyone who has held this distinction and to those who just earned their title!

If you have not received your Membership Certificate from our office, please inquire with me as all current 2021 Members have been mailed their certificates!

Lastly, Please check out the Texas Turfgrass Association NEW Website! We have updated our look and would love the feedback from everyone!

Thank you to everyone for being a member and for your support!

God Bless!

Your Executive Director, Katie Flowers

Featured Turfgrass Article

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THE TURFGRASS CERTIFICATION PROCESS

You've done it! You've made the decision to renovate your turfgrass area. One of the most important steps in renovation is obtaining quality plant material. This document serves as a basic guideline for choosing quality planting material and being aware of the different options available on the market.

WHAT IS CERTIFIED PLANT MATERIAL? Plant material goes through several certification processes when it is released from the original breeder. When a turfgrass is released from a breeder, it is placed on a patent. While it is under patent, it must be licensed to seed companies and/or sod growers through a licensing process and also go through the certification process. The certification process involves the Texas Department of Agriculture conducting site visits to "certify" the plant material. Site visits are done at sod farms or seed companies to ensure there are no "off-types" or contaminations from other plants. Once the material has been certified, it may come with a tag to indicate the certification class depending on the type of plant material. However, once the patent has expired then it is up to the individual companies/growers to certify the material through the Texas Department of Agriculture, if they wish to do so. When the patent expires, a license is no longer required to grow the material as there are no legal rules in place. While most growers strive to produce a quality product true to the cultivar, certification adds added assurance to the consumer. Purchasing certified plant material ensures that the cultivar of turfgrass is as-expected with the desired traits that the client is looking for without significant contamination by other cultivars or weeds. Conversely, non-certified material will not offer the same quality assurances, but will sometimes be a good fit for projects with a more limited budget.

SEED CERTIFICATION Figure 1 shows three examples of certified seed tags used in the state of Texas. The color and certification class on each tag will indicate how many generations away from the original seeded cultivar developed by the plant breeder.

The certified class is generally the material that is available to the public for purchase. Information provided on the seed certification tag must include class of certification, kind of crop, variety, lot number, and name and address of the owner.

The lot number will allow the end-user to trace the plant material to the original grower and field. This is important for contamination and inaccurate plant material issues that may arise.

SOD CERTIFICATION While sod goes through the same certification process as seed, a certification tag generally does not come with certified sod.

Each individual farm will have turfgrass cultivars that may be at different stages of the certification and/or patent process.

Consumers should inquire with each sod farm to learn about different options for certified plant material.

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2021 Newest CPTMs

New Certified Professional Turf Managers!

Weston Floyd

Texas A&M Agrilife Research Member: TTA, STMA, TXSTMA - Past President, GCSAA, Lone Star GCSA, Crop Science Society of America, BS Agronomy / Entomology, Texas A&M ‘05

Reed Grant

Center Country Club

Texas A&M University, Bachelor of Science in Animal Science

Congratulations!

Kyle Foreman

Lone Star Tree and Landscape Consulting Services Member: TTA, International Society of Aboriculture, ISA Texas Chapter, National Association of Landscape Professionals. Bachelor’s Degree Business Management, Southwestern University 2009, Certificate in Turfgrass Management, University of Georgia 2020. Certified Arborist, 7 Green Industry Certifications and Licenses. Passion for helping people grow better, healthier plants and managing soils. Enjoys playing golf, watching baseball, hunting, fishing, or just about anything outdoors.

Kristena Polmanteer Owner - Lawn Doctor

Member: TTA, BMI - Woodlands 1, Associates Degree Accounting, Davenport University. Worked in the green industry since 2015. Best of the Best Award as a Lawn Doctor franchise 2017 and 2018.

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Congrats to our newest CPTMs

Juan Tapia City of Plano

Member: TTA, Texas STMA, Texas Department of Agriculture. Has been with the City of Plano for 15 years.

Manages Sports Fields.

Joseph Buechman Town of Prosper

Member: Arbor Day Foundation, TTA, International Society of Arboriculture.

AAS Degree Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture. ISA Certified Arborist, TDA Licensed Applicator.

Stephan Richardson

City of College Station Parks Member: TTA, Texas STMA, STMA, TRAPS, NRPA. Bachelor of Science Agriculture - Horticulture and Crop Sciences - Sam Houston State University

Newest CPTMs Continued

Francisco Peralta

Peralta Pest Management and Tree Service LLC. Harris County Flood Control District Civic Organizations: Bayou Preservation Association, Mercer Botanical Gardens, ISA Texas Chapter Member: TTA, Entomological Society of America, International Society of Arboriculture, Dominican College of Architect, Engineer and Surveyor. BS Degree Agricultural Engineering from the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (AUSD). My wife, Rayetta Peralta, and I are residents of Conroe, TX. I love nature, the conservation of natural resources and clean energy. I am a Board Certified Entomologist, Certified Arborist and Certified Pesticide Applicator with the Texas Department of Agriculture, (Ag and SPCB)

Carlos Montelongo City of Plano

Member: STMA, TTA. Has been with the City of Plano 10 years, Started as maintenance worker, currently Asstistant Supervisor over Ballfields in the Parks / Rec department.

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Congrats to our newest CPTMs

Gary West

Terra Amare LLC, DBA West Turf Texas MS in One Planet Leadership from Texas A&M - Central Texas, BS in Nursing Midwestern State University. Been a turf nut since I can remember. My dad had me mowing back when the lawn mower handle was far above my head. Have always had the best lawn in the neighborhood. My business came naturally as I started performing services for others for free. Turf is therapy and has helped me maintain health after retiring from the Army and a long career as an ICU Nurse.

Gosta Olofson Purple Care

Vander Hallmark City of New Braunfels

Trevor Perez Self - Employed

877.220.919 4

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Top-rated wear tolerance and recoverability

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Best shade tolerance of all bermudagrass

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Exceptional aesthetics

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Dense leaf canopy

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Early spring green-up

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Very good fall color retention

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Exceptional drought resistance

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Uniform and consistent color and growth

Turfgrass and Installation for the Entire Great State of Texas!

Amarillo - Lubbock - El Paso - DFW - Austin - San Antonio - Houston - Brownsville

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Featured Turfgrass Article

CLICK HERE